Blade honing device



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BLADE HONING DEVICE Filed June 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

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BLADE HON I NG DEVICE Filed June a, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

Car/ ,4 [Md/2g BY @JZ 66. M'W'v United States Patent 3,339,313 BLADE HONING DEVICE Carl L. Lindhag, 31461 Lamar, Farmington, Mich. 48024 Filed June 8, 1964, Ser. No. 373,173 3 Claims. (Cl. 51-59) This invention relates to blade honing devices in general and more particularly to safety razor blade honing devices.

This invention is directed towards means for providing a simple and expedient means for manually sharpening ones own safety razor blades to a perfect edge every time.

It is an object of this invention to provide a honing device for safety razor blades.

It is an object of this invention to provide a safety razor blade honing device which is simple in cons-truction and relatively inexpensive to manufacture and produce so that it may be available at a reasonable and attractive retail price.

It is an object of this invention to provide a work tool for honing safety razor blades which may be made to the precision of a fine and delicate instrument with close tolerances and dimensions but without great expense.

It is also an object of this invention to provide precisely the same type of safety razor blade honing device from plastic materials of less expense and susceptibility to wear, and which are capable of long serviceable use in sharpening razor blades to a fine cutting edge.

To be more particular, it is an object of this invention to provide means for receiving and holding a razor blade with one edge thereof exposed for sharpening. Preferably, this is with the blade disposed vertically upright and the edge extending horizontally. Then means are provided forstroking the edge of the blade back and forth with equal and uniform pressure throughout.

A further object of this invention is to have means for sharpening the blade which are in a true sense free floating and self aligning on the edge of the blade to be sharpened.

In still greater detail, it is an object of this invention to provide a slide which is guided in ways to pass over the full length of a razor blade edge and which has an inner part biased for engagement with the blade edge. The biasing pressure is uniform and the slide includes hones disposed in pairs and forming inverted Vs receiving the blade edge in the cleft thereof. Still further, and of most importance, is having the hones'of each pair laterally spaced so that the sharpening cleft is in fact nonexistent.

These and other objects and advantages to be gained in the practice of this invention will be better understood and appreciated upon a reading of the following specification in regard to a preferred embodiment of the invention and having reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a blade honing device embodying the principal features of this invention.

FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional view of the blade honing device of the first drawing figure as seen in the plane of line 22 and looking in the direction of the arrows thereon.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged, and cross-sectional view, of part of the blade honing device shown by the first two drawing figures as seen in the plane of line 33 of the second drawing figure and looking in the direction of the arrows thereon.

FIGURE 4 is a perspective and partially exploded view of the blade honing device shown by FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 5 is similar to FIGURE 4 and shows means for receiving and holding an injector type of razor blade.

The razor blade honing device 10 includes an L-shaped body part 12 and another member 14 fitted thereto and which together are receptive of a razor blade 16 therebetween (not shown in the first drawing figure). The razor blade is held on edge relative to a slide member 18 which is guided by the body parts to pass back and forth relative thereto. Suitable hones 20, later described as to arrangement and use, are provided in the slide and are adapted to be engaged to the razor blade edge'for sharpening it.

The L-shaped body part 12 includes a flat face 22 on the inside of the long leg thereof and has an outwardly projecting rib 24 provided near one edge of the flat face. This rib is of a size to be received in the center opening provided in all double edge safety razor blades 16 and is intended to dispose one edge of the blade beyond the side face 22 of the body part. Although not shown in great detail, the upper corner edge of the rib part 24 is chamfered, as at 26, for greater ease in placing the razor blade thereover. The rib itself is also closely sized to the conventional center slot opening in all safety razor blades to assure consistent placement of blades to be sharpened.

A pocket area 28 is formed in the body part face 22 where the lower edge of the blade 16 will lie. This enables a person to easily eject the blade 16 from the rib 24 and from engagement with the body part 12 by merely touching the lower half of the blade, causing it to move into the ejector pocket 28, and consequently fulcruming the top half of the blade out where it is easier and safer to get a hold of.

Referring still to the L-shaped part 12, it will be noted that a pair of spaced and laterally disposed ribs 30 and 31 are formed and projected outwardly from the inner side wall face 22. They are on opposite sides of the rib 24 but are generally aligned therewith.

Immediately below the last mentioned rib 30, and near the inner end thereof, is a threaded aperture 32 whose purpose is to receive a threaded fastener 34 in engagement therewith. The fastener, in turn, holds the body member 14 in fitted engagement with the body part 12.

Referring to FIGURES 4 and 5, the body member part 14 is shown to include a flat side face 36 which is intended to be received next adjacent the body part face 22. It also has an elongated groove or guideway 38 formed from one end to the other thereof and near its upper edge. This guideway 38 mates with the projecting and aligned ribs 24 and 30 on the body part 12 to enable one part to be extended lengthwise relative to the other.

The threaded fastener 34 passes through an elongated slot 40 in the body member 14 for engagement with the body part 12. When the fastener is loose, it enables the two body parts to be extended relative to each other without disengaging one from the other. The pads 39, on one or the other of parts 12 and 14 compensate for razor blade thickness. The fastener slot 40 is long enough to enable the body member 14 to be moved to one side sufliciently to expose the area which is receptive of, or has, the razor blade 16 in engagement therewith. When the fastener 34 is tightened down, the body part 12 and matching member 14 are engaged together tight enough to hold the razor blade 16 in a securely fixed position therebetween.

The body parts or members 12 and 14 as engaged together are shown to include upwarly disposed outer side walls 42 and 44 respectively, which form a way 46 that extends the full length of both of them. The L-shaped part 12 has a wall part 44 which is aligned with and matches the side wall 44 on the smaller body member 14 and can be considered as merely an extension thereof. In the drawing FIGURES 4 and 5 the slide 18 is shown disposed between the side walls 42 and 44 and over the way 46 in which the edge of the blade to be sharpened is exposed. The slide member 18 is rectangular in shape and fits between the body part side walls 42 and 44. It is formed to include runners 48 and 50 on each side and near their bottom edge which are received in guideways 52 and 54 formed in the side walls 42 and 44. The guideways 52 and 54 are spaced from the trough of the way 46 and extend the full length of the body parts 12 and 14. Suitable slide stops 53 and 55 are provided at opposite ends thereof.

Between the ends of the guideways 52 and 54, and in the vicinity of where the razor blade 16 is exposed, there is a depression 56 and 58, respectively, formed in each of the guideways. Such depressions extend slightly beyond the ends of the razor blades and their purpose will be understood as the description of the razor blade honing device progresses.

Refering to FIGURES 2 and 3, the slide member 18 is shown to include a cylindrical bore 60. The bore extends from the upper end of the slide almost all the way through the slide. However, a smaller bore 62 completes the passage through the slide at the lower end thereof. A dove tail closure 64 covers the bores at the upper disposed end of the slide member.

In the bore 60 is a cylindrical plug 66. The plug has a round keyway 68 formed down one side and which matches a round key formed in the side wall of the bore. The plug includes a spring pocket 72 in its upper end. A spring member 74, in compression, is disposed in the pocket and biases the plug towards the end of the bore 60 by its engagement with the closure 64.

A smaller cylindrical shaped member 76 is provided on the bottom of the plug 66 and it is sized to pass through the smaller bore 62 in the bottom wall of the slide 18 and to extend therebeyond. More important, it is molded with four tungsten carbide hones 209 embedded therein.

FIGURE 2 shows that the hones 20 are arranged in pairs and that they are crossed so that they form an inverted V. Further, the edge of the blade 16 is received in the cleft of the V.

Referring to FIGURE 3, it will be appreciated that the hones 20 are laterally spaced and also cocked with respect to each other. Their innermost disposed edges are grouped and are the parts actually used for blade sharpening purposes. In actual practice a inclusive angle has been found most ideal.

The slide 18 serves as a sharpening head and in a very real sense is a floating member which is capable of aligning itself vertically, horizontally and angularly over the edge of the blade 16 to be sharpened. Vertical placement is under the influence of the spring 74. Horizontal placement is effected by both the blade receptive rib 24 and the play afforded the runners 58 and 50 in the depressed area of the guideways 52 and 54. Angular alignment is afforded by the relative rotation allowed the cylindrical plug member 66 in the bore 60, within the limits of the key 70 and keyway 68 arrangement.

Before discussing the use of the blade honing device 10, reference should be made to FIGURE 5 which shows a like device 100. The principal difference is that the second honing device is for ejector type razor blades 116. As a consequence, a pair of projecting ribs 123 and 124 are used and are positioned to receive the standard holes in the ejector blades thereover. The ejector pocket 128 is also located a little higher due to the smaller size of the ejector blade 116. Since all other parts are essentially the same as previously described, they have been given the same reference numerals to avoid duplication of description.

Referring now to the use of honing devices 10 and 100. The sliding head 18 is engaged in the guideways 52 and 54 at one end of the body parts 12 and 14, which are engaged together. The body member 14 is extended, by loosening the fastener 34, and a blade 16 or 116 is positioned with an edge exposed in the way 46 for sharpening.

When the body member 14 is moved back into fitted engagement with body part 12, and the fastener 34 is turned down, the razor blade is retained in the body part and the sharpening operation may be commenced.

The spring member 74 in the sharpening head or slide 18 holds the cylindrical plug 66 down and the hones 20 just above the blade edge to be sharpened while it is in the guideways 52 and 54. When the head is disposed in the depressed areas 56 and 58, the hones engage the blade edge and the spring 74 tends to hold the slide off its seat. Consequently, with slight pressure to hold the slide in the depressed areas, there is a uniform spring pressure to hold the hones engaged to the blade edge to be sharpened.

The travel of the hones 20 over the edge of the blade being sharpened is controlled by the length of the depressed areas 56 and 58, which serve in fact as the seat of the slide while in use. Full honing of the blade edge is attained by close control of the travel of the slide and more particularly of the hones 20. For full honing, one hone and half of the next must be run out over the end of the blade and the head must be returned to the opposite end of the blade wtihout the hone dropping off. Three hones are always on the blade and consequently disengagement therefrom in the seated area is impossible.

It will be appreciated that other shaped hones 20 may be used. Although rectangular pieces are shown, they might be square, triangular or otherwise with the relationship of dimensions adjusted as necessary.

For best results, a light mineral oil or the like, which will not affect the skin, may be used to help in the sharpening. The plastic to plastic of the slide members in the guideways, when plastic is used, is self lubricating. However, the slight lubrication 'between the hones and blade assures a clean sharpening and no digging or burning thereof.

The honing device proposed is particularly attractive as a matter of safety since the razor blade is completely hidden from view and touch although it is adequately exposed for sharpening.

It will also be apparent that the carbide hones are good for lifetime use in sharpening razor blades. They will never dull or wear out in the course of use in the proposed device. Further, the head member is a part which can be replaced without the expense of replacing the whole device if necessary by reason of loss or otherwise.

Although a preferred embodiment of this invention has been shown and described in detail, and one slight modification, it will be appreciated that other modifications and improvements are within the scope and spirit of the teachings set forth. Accordingly, such of these other improvements and modifications as are not specifically excluded by the language of the hereinafter appended claims, are to be considered as inclusive thereunder.

I claim:

1. A device for honing razor blades, and comprising:

a member including two parts formed and disposed to receive and retain a razor blade therebetween with an edge of said blade exposed for sharpening,

said parts being cooperatively formed to provide guideways on opposite sides of said blade,

and a reciprocal member received in said guideways and including hones disposed for engagement with the edge of said blade to be sharpened,

said reciprocal member having a bore provided therein,

a cylindrical member receptive in said bore and having said hones mounted therein, and spring means in said bore for biasing said cylindrical member towards the blade edge to be sharpened and holding said hones in engagement therewith,

said hones being relatively disposed to provide aligned Vs having the legs thereof laterally spaced and receptive of the blade edge to be sharpened in the clefts thereof.

2. A device for honing razor blades, and comprising:

a body part member including a separable part and threaded fastener means for holding said separable part thereto,

cooperative means formed and provided between said body part member and said separable part for receiving and positively positioning a razor blade member therebetween,

an elongated slot provided in one of said body and separable parts and receptive of said fastener means for permitting the relative separation of said body member and separable parts to receive a razor blade,

guideways formed in said body and separable parts in parallel alignment and on opposite sides of Where the razor blade member is received,

a slide member received and guided in said guideways,

said slide member including a bore formed in the underside thereof and a cylindrical member received and relatively movable in said bore,

spring means in said bore biasing said cylindrical member outwardly thereof,

blade sharpening hones provided in said cylindrical member and disposed to provide pairs of aligned VS receptive of the blade edge to be sharpened in the clefts thereof,

said homes of each V aligned pair being laterally spaced relative to each other and in combination being selfaligned relative to a blade edge to be sharpened upon spring resistant depression thereof.

3. The honing device of claim 2,

said cylindrical member being relatively rotatable in said bore and one of said slide and cylindrical members having relative lateral freedom affording free floating adjusement for said homes on a blade edge to be sharpened.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 660,640 10/ 1900 Kampfe 5121 1 700,562 5/ 1902 Ruhl. 2,351,438 6/1944 Levy 51-59 2,459,945 1/ 1949 Johnston 5159 2,845,692 8/1958 Moussette 5159 X HAROLD D. WHITEHEAD, Primary Examiner. 

2. A DEVICE FOR HONING RAZOR BLADES, AND COMPRISING: A BODY PART MEMBER INCLUDING A SEPARABLE PART AND THREADED FASTENER MEANS FOR HOLDING SAID SEPARABLE PART THERETO, COOPERATIVE MEANS FORMED AND PROVIDED BETWEEN SAID BODY PART MEMEBER AND SAID SEPARABLE PART FOR RECEIVING AND POSITIVELY POSITIONING A RAZOR BLADE MEMBER THEREBETWEEN, AN ELONGATED SLOT PROVIDED IN ONE OF SAID BODY AND SEPARABLE PARTS AND RECEPTIVE OF SAID FASTENER MEANS FOR PERMITTING THE RELATIVE SEPARATION OF SAID BODY MEMBER AND SEPERABLE PARTS TO RECEIVE A RAZOR BLADE, GUIDEWAYS FORMED IN SAID BODY AND SEPARABLE PARTS IN PARALLEL ALIGNMENT AND ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF WHERE THE RAZOR BLADE MEMBER IS RECEIVED, A SLIDE MEMBER RECEIVED AND GUIDED IN SAID GUIDEWAYS, SAID SLIDE MEMBER INCLUDING A BORE FORMED IN THE UNDERSIDE THEREOF AN A CYLINDRICAL MEMBER RECEIVED AND RELATIVELY MOVABLE IN SAID BORE, SPRING MEANS IN SAID BORE BIASING SAID CYLINDRICAL MEMBER OUTWARDLY THEREOF, BLADE SHARPENING HONES PROVIDED IN SAID CYLINDRICAL MEMBER AND DISPOSED TO PROVIDE PAIRS OF ALIGNED V''S RECEPTIVE OF THE BLADE EDGE TO BE SHARPENED IN THE CLEFTS THEREOF, SAID HONES OF EACH V ALIGNED PAIR BEING LATERALLY SPACED RELATIVE TO EACH OTHER AND IN COMBINATION BEING SELFALIGNED RELATIVE TO A BLADE EDGE TO BE SHARPENED UPON SPRING RESISTANT DEPRESSION THEREOF. 